Final answer:
The second figure in an encounter within museum theatre or interactive performance could be a member of the audience who takes on a role to more deeply engage with the historical or social content being presented. This approach is used to enhance learning experiences by inviting active participation from the audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second figure in an encounter, in the context of museum theatre or interactive performance exercises such as second-person interpretations, can be a member of the audience who takes on a role alongside the interpreters. For example, at Connor Prairie Interactive History Park in Indiana, participants engage in a second-person interpretation by acting out the role of an enslaved person seeking freedom. This active involvement allows the audience to experience history vividly and learn more effectively through engagement and participation.
In the case of Image Theatre, the second figure might be another participant who becomes part of a tableau created by a "sculptor" to represent a particular opinion on an issue without the use of words. Similarly, in Forum Theatre, individuals from the audience, referred to as "spect-actors", are encouraged to step in and replace the actors to change the outcome of a scene. This format is central to the Theatre of the Oppressed and facilitates a dynamic interaction between the performers and the audience.